Would he be inside? Would he be glad to see her? What if his parents were here? She didn’t really want to talk to him in front of them, but Meg was hospitality personified and would likely want to talk with her, especially as she hadn’t had the chance to do so at the café earlier this week.
She pulled in at the semicircular gravel parking area, and as soon as she pulled on the hand brake, the demon known as Bella came tearing around, barking. Well, that was one way to let people know she’d arrived. She didn’t need to ring the doorbell.
“Sit,” she commanded in as strong a voice as she knew, then tried the raised-eyebrow trick that seemed to work on others. To no avail.
“Bella! Sit down now,” Meg called from the door, her face lighting. “EJ! Well, this is a surprise. How are you?”
Emma-Jane retrieved the container and gingerly made her way up the brick path to the front door. “I’m okay. Thanks, Mrs. Knight.”
“Oh, it’s Meg and you know it.” She hugged her. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“Speaking of, is … is Jordan back? I … I was working at the café this morning and thought he might like some of these.”
Meg glanced at the clear container and smiled. “If that’s what I think it is, then I think you’ll find the answer is yes.”
“I can leave them here if he’s asleep.”
“Oh no. He’s been up for hours. He’s out helping Graham with the fencing down near the dam, if you want to go down there. Otherwise you can stay here for a cup of tea with me. They started late and skipped lunch, so I’m sure they must be nearly finished and should be back soon.”
Bless Meg, but she wasn’t up for conversation with this kindly woman. She needed to speak to Jordan while she had her courage. “If it’s all the same with you, then I’ll go now and take this to them.”
Meg smiled, a gleam in her eye that said she knew who their visitor really wanted to talk to. “Then just head on down. You know the way, right?”
She nodded. It’d been a while, but she and Jordan had often hung out near the dam, especially in summer. She’d learned to swim in that stretch of water. “Thanks.”
“He’ll be glad to see you, pet.”
She hitched a smile to her face and proceeded down the grassy path that led to the dam, with Bella scampering at her heels.
A few minutes later, her steps slowed as she sighted Jordan and his dad working near the fence. Graham was holding a wooden post while Jordan used a post driver to pound it into the earth.
She swallowed. She’d always known Jordan possessed a wiry runner’s frame, but she didn’t know he possessed muscles like that. She watched for a moment, seeing him in a new light. Is that how women—Harriet?—had always seen him?
Mr. Knight looked up, then said something to Jordan that made him turn and face her.
Her heart skipped, and she smiled, waving with her free hand. “I’ve brought afternoon tea,” she called as she drew near.
“Seems a bit decadent when we haven’t even had lunch yet.” Graham clapped Jordan on the shoulder. “Someone here slept in.”
“Hi, Jordan.” Her smile faded at the absence of his. “Did you, uh, have a good time in LA?”
He nodded, his gaze straying to the container. “Good enough.”
“Do I spy a sausage roll in there?” Graham asked, peering through the clear lid.
“Freshly made today. Although you might prefer it warmed up.”
“I’m happy to eat them however they come.”
“In that case …” She opened the lid, and the scent of deliciousness drifted out.
Graham helped himself to a sausage roll, and she retrieved a paper napkin and a little squeezy packet of tomato sauce. “I’ve even got tomato sauce.”
“Oh, she comes prepared.”
“Sure does.” Jordan’s voice was flat. He wasn’t animated at all.
“Well, uh, I’ll just leave you two to it,” Graham said, before whistling for Bella and strolling off a little way.
